History and Tradition of the Notre Dame Pilgrimage
Each
year since 1976, the Notre Dame College School community (students,
teachers, parents and alumni) has joined together to walk in
solidarity with those suffering in other parts of the world. There
are many ways we put our faith into action at Notre Dame, but our
annual Pilgrimage at the end of October is a significant focal point
of our school year. This is an opportunity to learn about and
respond to issues of injustice in the developing world. Participants
collect pledges for their 20 km journey. This year we will be
walking a different route due to the construction barriers created
by the Hwy 406 expansion currently in progress. As a group we travel
along the canal path from Smith St. to Dain City. We then return to
the school to finish the day in prayer. Dillon Hall is transformed
into our place of worship and we watch in awe as the light from one
candle spreads to fill the space with beautiful light a symbolic
reminder of the difference we can make in the lives of others when
we join in solidarity to challenge injustice.
Over the last 35 years, more than $3 million has been raised for
development projects throughout the world. The focus of the early
years was India, then Mexico and Tanzania. For the last 25 years,
support has been given to Yancana Huasy ( house of work ), a centre
for physically and mentally disabled people in Lima Peru associated
with the Holy Cross Fathers (www.yancanahuasy.org),
and the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (www.devp.org).
Most recently, support was also extended to the Dominican Canadian
Community Development Group (DCCD) founded by Notre Dame alumni
Alicia Muniak and Quinn DeVries (www.dccdgroup.ca).
DCCD continues to offer social justice learning excursions to
students during March Break.
This year s Pilgrimage is Sunday October 23rd. Please join us and /
or pledge a student to walk. If you know a Notre Dame student and
would like to sponsor them, please fill out the information below,
then you will be directed to PayPal to make your donation. Any
amount over $10 will receive a tax receipt. If possible, please
include the student s name and Period 2 teacher name to help us in
our registration process.
Each
year since 1976, the Notre Dame College School community (students,
teachers, parents and alumni) has joined together to walk in
solidarity with those suffering in other parts of the world. There
are many ways we put our faith into action at Notre Dame, but our
annual Pilgrimage at the end of October is a significant focal point
of our school year. This is an opportunity to learn about and
respond to issues of injustice in the developing world. Participants
collect pledges for their 20 km journey. This year we will be
walking a different route due to the construction barriers created
by the Hwy 406 expansion currently in progress. As a group we travel
along the canal path from Smith St. to Dain City. We then return to
the school to finish the day in prayer. Dillon Hall is transformed
into our place of worship and we watch in awe as the light from one
candle spreads to fill the space with beautiful light a symbolic
reminder of the difference we can make in the lives of others when
we join in solidarity to challenge injustice.
